Inflatable escape slide



Fell- 27, 1958 i G. BHQLCOMBE 3,370,684

INFLATABLE ES CAPE SLIDE Filed Sept. 8, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

M BY (7a/2,33 Stjgm ATTORNEYS Feb. 27, 1968 G. B. HoLcoMBE 3,379,684

INFLATABLE ESCAPE SLIDE Filed Sept. 8, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VENTOR,

ITEF E GORDON B. HOLCOHBE ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,370,684INFLATABLE ESCAPE SLIDE Gordon B. Holcombe, Millbrae, Calif., assignorto Industrial Covers, Inc., San Francisco, Calif., a corporation ofCalifornia Filed Sept. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 577,889 2 Claims. (Cl. 193-25)ABSTRACT F THE DSCLSURE This invention relates to an inlatabie escapeslide and, more particularly, to a double slide that is adapted to bereleased and iniiated from an aircraft for rapid emergency exit ofpassengers and the crew.

With the advent of the jet aircraft and the sharp increase in touristtravel, there is a definite trend toward greater and greater passengerloads. At the present time a major aircraft manufacturer is developingand building an aircraft capable of accommodating and transporting 500passengers, and indications are that even greater payloads will besought. Even under normal circumstances, the loading and unloading ofseveral hundred passengers will be a monumental task, and in the eventof au emergency landing or interruption of take-off wherein it is highlydesirable that all personnel aboard leave the aircraft asV rapidly aspossible, the problems of mass disembarkation are magnified manyfold. Bytheir very nature, emergency evacuations are usally performed away fromnormal airport passenger accommodations, and often while the aircraft isdisposed in other than its customary landed posi tion. For example, inthe event of landing gear failure, the aircraft mayr be tilted to oneside or inclined from its normal disposition with either the forward endor tail section higher than normal.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an inatableescape slide that is adapted to provide a means of rapid emergencyevacuation of aircraft.

It is a further object of this invention to provide inflatable escapeslides having vastly increased escape capacity.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an inflatable escapeslide including side restraining means which minimize risk of passengerinjury and screens vision by evacuees of ground level immediately 4belowdoor opening.

lt is a further object of this invention to provide au inflatable escapeslide that is adapted to produce initial rapid descent but thereafterslows the passenger down to land gently on his feet.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an escapeslide including inatable longitudinal beams designed for maximumstrength with minimum inflation volurne requirements.

In carrying out this invention, I provide an escape slide comprisingthree longitudinal, generally parallel infiatabie beams with a flexiblesheet of fabric or the like extended between them to form two slidingsurfaces, one on each side of the central beam. rfop and bottom crossbeams or bearing members are in infiatable communication with thelongitudinal beams to support the slide at its upper end against theaircraft, and at its lower end on the ground. Since the bending momentsof a simple beam under load are at a minimum at its end supports, thediameters of the inflatable beams a-re tapered down toward icc theirends in order to minimize inflation capacity, and they are of maximumcross-sections at approximately their mid-points wherein the bendingmoments are greatest. The lower cross or ground-bearing member is.preferably of a diameter that will enable a passenger seated on it tostep directly off on to the supporting surface of the ground. Additionalinflatable cross members are preferably provided intermediate the endsof the slide for increased rigidity, and along the upper extending,infiatable posts which support side restraining sheets designedrtofunction as side rails and prevent evacuees from falling off, or beingfrightened at the prospect of falling off, the side of thevslide.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe description followina when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an escape slide embodying features of myinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the escape slide;

FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are section views taken along lines 3 3, 4-4, 5 5and 66, respectively; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are side elevation views of the slide in use.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. l, my high capacity, doubleescape slide 10 includes a pair of side beams 12 and 14 and a central,intermediate beam 16 all arranged in generally parallel relationship.Interconnecting the upper ends of the beams 12, 14 and 16 and ininflatable communication therewith are upper and lower cross supportmembers 26 and 22, respectively. In addition, intermediate, inflatabletransverse members 24 and 26 are provided tointerconnect the beams atone or more locations along their length. These intermediate members maybe of relatively small diameter since their primary function is not oneof load bearing but merely to maintain the separated parallelrelationship of the longitudinal beams 12, 14 and 16.

The top cross support member 20 is of extended length, protruding beyondthe side beams in order to form a substantial bearing member that, wheninflated and secured by the anchor tab 28, bears firmly against thefuselage of the aircraft so as to provide increased stability and insurea straight escape route even in relatively high Winds. The diameter ofthe upper cross support member and the diameters of the beams connectingtherewith are relatively small because beam bending moments of thesingle beam are at a minimum near the beam supports at the aircraft andon the ground, and it is desirable to reduce inflation volumerequirements where possible.

It will be noted that the longitudinal beams 12, 14 and 16 are formed insections a, b, c and d which are joined along seams 3l), 31 and 32 toform a series of yieldable hingelike junctures. As noted in FIGS. 7 and8, the sections are disposed at progressively smaller angles withrespect to the horizon when the escape slide is infiated and supportedbetween the aircraft and the ground. The progressively reduced angles,in and of themselves, tend to reduce the rate of descent from an initialrapid slide at the relatively steep upper sections 12a, 14a and 16a. Inaddition, the hinge joints 3f), 31 and 32 constitute yieldable memberswhich futher reduce the slide angle to reduce rate of descent withouttending to spring back and produce a trampoline effect.

Preferably, the beam sections are formed of diameters suicient to resistmaximum anticipated loads where needed, but small enough where possibleto minimize ination volume. For that reason, the top sections 12a, 14aand 16a taper outward from their merger with the top cross member 2G toa maximum diameter at the first hinge joint 30 where the angle ofdescent is reduced slightly.

The second side beam sections 12b, 14b and 1Gb are of substantiallyuniform, maximum diameter since through a range of inclination anglesdependent upon the height of the upper anchor panel 30, these sectionsare approximately midway between the beam supports Where bending momentsare at a maximum. At the hinge joints 31 the third sections extend atstill a shallower angle further to reduce the angle of inclination ofthe slide and increase the braking effects of friction. Finally, thelowermost section 12d, 14d and 16d taper down to the diameter of thebottom cross member 22 which is preferably of a diameter which wouldenable a person of average height to sit on it with his feet at or nearthe ground, considering a certain amount of compression.

The actualsliding surfaces 32 and 34 comprise flexible sheet materialpanels which are bonded or otherwise secured to the longitudinal beams12, 14 'and 16. The sliding surfaces 32 and 34 are preferably disposedslightly below the upper surfaces of the side support beams 12 and 14 sothat the beams provide lateral restraining means.

VIn addition, this enables the beams to twist slightly under load,causing the fabric to yield and increase frictional braking. It willalso be noted that the intermediate longitudinal -beam 16 is of largerdiameter over most of its length to divide the slide longitudinally toprovide two separate and distinct sliding chutes 32" and 34. Of course,this 'also accommodates the greater beam loading along the middle of theslide.

Near the upper end of each side support beam 12 and 14 I also provide apair of posts 36 and 38 which are in open communication with the beamsso as to be iniiated therewith. The posts 36 and 38, when iniiated,support a side wall 40 of fabric or the like which is extended over themand bonded or otherwise secured to the side beams 12 and 14 to providelateral restraining means, reducing chances of injury -by falling. Y

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, the escape slide is inated by anyconventional means to extend from the fuselage of the aircraft with theVanchor panel 28 firmly secured to the aircraft A by any conventionalmeans. Because of the jointed construction, the upper portion of theslide extends downward at a fairly steep angle which is graduallyreduced through the second and third sections and finally the lowersection is disposed at just a slight angle from the horizontal. Inaddition, the hinged structure causes the longitudinal support beams toyield under passenger load Without producing a trampoline effect,further to brake descent.

Thus, as the passenger progresses down the slide, he drops at maximumSpeed initially and this is gradually slowed until he reaches thenear-horizontal lower section.

Weight naturally depresses the fabric slide surface 32 or 34 so that heengages the upper rear quadrant of the tube with the backs of his legsor buttocks to bring him to virtually a complete stop. At this point,the evacuated? Y' chute to minimize reluctance to jump. in addition,testsI Then when he reaches the bottom cross member, his

have shown that the escape capacity of the double slide exceeds that oftwo single slides.

While this invention has been described in connectionV with a preferredembodiment thereof, it is to be understood that modiiications andchanges therein may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this invention as delined by theclaims appended hereto Having described my invention, I claim: 1. Anintiatable escape-slide comprising: a pair of generally parallel side`support beams, an intermediate support beam generally parallel to saidside support beams, an upper and a lower end support member, each join#ing the adjacent ends of said side support beams, and an intermediatesupport member joining said side support beams intermediate the endsthereof, a exible sheet extending ybetween said beams and supportmembers, said side beams and support members being of tubular inflatableconstruction and being in continuous communication, Y and at least oneof said support members being in communication with said intermediatesupport beam, said intermediate Vsupport beam extending above the normallevel of said exible sheet to divide said slide into two adjacentchutes. Y 2. The inatable escape slide defined by claim 1 includmg:

at least one generally upright hollow post carried at the upper end ofeach side support beam in communication therewith, exible sheet materialsecured to each side support beam and to said post to form siderestraining members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,092,232 6/ 1963 Adams 193-4253,250,361 5/1966 Bystedt 193-35 ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Primary Examiner.

